Prince William and Kate sidestep Harry questions as couple return to public duties

King Charles III, Prince William and wife Kate have made their first public appearances since the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir, but there was no royal review and book-related questions were sidestepped with ease.

The Prince and Princess of Wales made a hospital-opening trip to Liverpool while King Charles visited a charity group — both low-key trips for the senior royal family members, but high profile considering the timing.

These were also the first public royal events of the year.

Prince Harry’s book Spare, in which he savages his family and explains how he came to retire from royal life, was published on Tuesday.

Questions on Prince Harry were fired at the Prince and Princess of Wales but the media experts refused to take the bait.

When they arrived at the hospital opening, Prince William and wife Kate ignored the first of a number of Prince Harry-related questions during their day in Liverpool.

A man in an outside area reserved for the media asked: “Do you ever plan to comment on Harry's book, sir?”

At their next stop at a mental health charity, a broadcaster shouted: “Your Royal Highness, have you had a chance to read your brother's book?”

King Charles III arrives at an event in Aberdeenshire two days after the release of Prince Harry's book 'Spare'. Getty Images

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were also back out fulfilling royal commitments, visiting the Royal Liverpool University hospital. Reuters

King Charles unveils a plaque in his honour during the visit in Aberdeenshire. AP

The Princess of Wales poses for selfies with staff at the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital. AP

King Charles signs a guestbook. Getty Images

The Prince and Princess of Wales listen to young adults in the 'Mentor Room' while visiting the Open Door Charity in Birkenhead. AP

King Charles toured new facilities at the local community space, as well as meeting with support groups. AFP

Prince William and his wife meet staff at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. AFP

Again, the question was brushed aside without any acknowledgement.

Both trips were a contrast to the publicity tour that Prince Harry has been on to promote Spare.

So far, neither Buckingham Palace nor aides for any of the royal family members have commented on Prince Harry's disclosures.

The king, meanwhile, visited Aboyne, near the late Queen Elizabeth II's Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, to tour the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed and meet local hardship support groups.

He drank tea in the Aboyne Men's Shed, which is part of an international network providing community spaces for men to connect, and met local people.

King Charles, dressed in a hunting Stewart tartan kilt, then unveiled a plaque to a round of applause and as Scotland The Brave rang out on the pipes.

Sandra Charles, 64, visiting from Australia, said she had been tipped off about the king's visit by a friend in Aberdeen.

“I thought, while I am over here, why not come along and see if I can get the chance to meet him,” she said, minutes before King Charles spoke to her.

Speaking after her interaction with the king, she added: “I was waving and he came up and I said I was from Australia. He said to say hello to everyone back in Australia.

“When he came back out, he remembered me and said, 'are you still here?', and then said, 'we can't do without the Aussies'.”

While visiting the Men's Shed, King Charles watched members perform craft skills including wood and stone carving.

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THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.

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FA Cup quarter-final draw

The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Newcastle v Manchester City

Norwich v Derby/Manchester United

Leicester City v Chelsea

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Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

Match info:

Wolves 1
Boly (57')

Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”